Extracts from a letter from Nico Llewelyn Davies to Andrew Birkin, 11 December 1975.

As for Arthur's reaction to JMB - here, as you will readily appreciate, I am too young. Jack was always saying how father resented JMB, but I don't think the others ever said this. One can only guess the obvious (a) that he, Father, knew he was not going to live, (b) Jimmie Barrie will, please God, help, and (c) I hate the whole thought of it, but it's the best solution under the circumstances. Similarly Mother said she'd marry him only because she knew she was dying. But it's all guesswork.